Jose Maria da Silva Paranhos, Jr.; Baron of Rio Branco (April 20, 1845 - February 10, 1912),
was a Brazilian nobleman born in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The future baron was the son of Jose Maria da Silva Paranhos, Viscount of Rio Branco, and was given the title a few years before the end of the Brazilian Imperial period. Even after the Republic was proclaimed in 1889, he never stopped using his title. Paranhos made his career as a politician, lawyer, professor, historian, diplomat and monarchist. He initiated his political career as a deputy in the House of Commons. In 1876 he worked in the Brazilian Consulate-General in Liverpool, England, as Head of Mission and succeeded in all of his projects during that time. Baron of Rio Branco was very important to Brazilian history because of the fact that he worked to define Brazil’s borders. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1902 and 1912, assigned to four different presidents, a record in Brazilian History. He negotiated territorial disputes between Brazil and some of its neighbors and consolidated the borders of modern Brazil. He is considered to be one of the most prominent Brazilians, as his work and skills were essential for winning cases of territorial arbitrations against France and Argentina, as well as for incorporating new territory. As a mediator he negotiated and solved problems among the United States and many European countries. Invited to mediate such big issues, he never stopped believing in diplomacy as the instrument to handle international questions. Because of that, Brazil started to be known internationally as a peaceful country. In 1903 he signed the Petropolis’ Agreement with Bolivia ending a conflict between the two countries about the state of Acre. The region was occupied mostly by native Brazilian but the Bolivian government had decided to sell it to American companies. Today Acre’s capital owes its name to a demonstration of gratefulness. In 1909 he was encouraged to run for presidency, but he decided not to do if the decision was not unanimous among Brazilian citizens. As a writer he wrote 2 books and was awarded and occupied the 34th seat of the Brazilian Academy of Literature. The Baron of Rio Branco is the patron of the Brazilian foreign service.
